2011 Aston Martin DB9 Malaysia Reviews & Ratings, Expert Car Reviews on LIVE LIFE DRIVE

Exclusive and even more desirable, the 2011 Aston Martin DB9 makes for a wonderful grand-touring supercar. It is not without flaws, but the divine looks, sumptuous cabin and powerful, refined drivetrain win the day for us.

2011 Aston Martin DB9 quick specs

Body Style	Coupe
Class	Sports/GT
Assembled	-

Engine Range	-
Fuel Options	-
Seating Capacity	2+2

2011 Aston Martin DB9 ratings (overall rating : 3.5/5.0)

Styling
Handling
Comfort
Quality + Reliability
Performance

Roominess
Running Costs
Value for Money
Equipment
Environment

Styling

Stunning. Sensational. Ravishing. Somehow these adjectives do not seem to adequately convey how heart-achingly gorgeous the 2011 Aston Martin DB9 really is. The perfect coupe proportions are accompanied by Aston Martin's trademark grille, graceful lines and muscular rear haunches. It is virtually impossible to even identify areas to improve upon. Is the 2011 Aston Martin DB9 the most beautiful car on the market? We think so.

Handling

The 2011 Aston Martin DB9 offers a fine blend of agility and comfort, with firm suspension by Aston Martin standards. The handling is composed and grippy, and corners can be taken on with confidence at fairly high speeds. But do not start expecting Ferrari levels of dynamics. For one, the steering is curiously heavy, in contradiction to the 2011 Aston Martin DB9's grand touring aspirations. Steering feel is also lacking, limiting the dynamic appeal. The traction control intervenes too keenly for our liking, too.

Comfort

The 2011 Aston Martin DB9 is most at home on even, smooth roads, because the ride can get a bit choppy, jiggly on anything bumpier. Not helping is the surprising amount of road and wind noise at speed. The V12 engine soundtrack dominates, but settles down nicely while cruising. From the modern dash design to the supremely supportive seats and plenty of driving position adjustments, the cabin makes a brilliant place to spend time. The view out is good for a car of this type, but the steering wheel is too thick and the minor controls on the dash centre are too small, making them hard to read.

Quality + Reliability

The cabin design is a triumph, making use of wood, aluminium and leather to great effect. The high quality materials are matched by a high standard of fit-and-finish. But for the price, and compared to what rivals such as the Bentley Continental GT are offering, the fit-and-finish have definite room for improvements. Over these years of production, the underlying mechanicals including the V12 engine have stood the test of time, so you can rest assured about the 2011 Aston Martin DB9's long-term reliability.

Performance

With 470 bhp at 6000 rpm and 601 Nm at 5000 rpm to call upon, the 5.9-litre V12 engine is tremendously strong, and surprisingly so at low revs. What is truly impressive is the overall drivetrain refinement, credit of which goes to the six-speed automatic gearbox with paddle-shift manual override function—it is the first to be based on an automatic, rather than a manual. It can not change gears quite as quickly as the best hydraulically actuated manual gearboxes, but it provides access to the smoothest ZF automatic one moment, and manual shifts at the nudge of the paddles. What's not to like?

Roominess

The 2011 Aston Martin DB9 has a two-plus-two seating configuration, but provides room for only two. The driver and passenger get decent room, but the rear seats are no more than luggage cubbies. Kids, let alone adults, will have problem fitting in the back. The 186-litre boot is not great by GT standards, and will struggle to cope with luggage for two. Pity, then, that the useless rear seats can not be folded to free up more loading space.

Running Costs

Like the asking price, running costs are sky-high. For a start, the fuel economy is abysmal at 6.4 km/litre. The 2011 Aston Martin DB9 will be extremely expensive to service and maintain, too. Depreciation is perhaps the biggest cause for concern. Yes, the Aston Martin DB9's limited numbers on the market will surely keep residual values decent. But bear in mind that any reasonable drop in percentage terms actually represents a massive drop in absolute amount.

Value for Money

Like other supercars, the 2011 Aston Martin DB9 is an enormously expensive car to buy and run. The heavy steering, lack of refinement and less-than-perfect ride are areas that could be improved upon. But overall, there is no denying that Aston Martin has produced a wonderful car in the DB9. The polished dynamics are matched by one of the best drivetrain around, while the sumptuous cabin feels special. More so than anything else, the Aston Martin DB9's divine looks are its strongest asset, and its badge brings emotive appeal rivalling a Ferrari's. Like for so many supercars, the 2011 Aston Martin DB9 seems to somehow justify its huge price tag.

Equipment

You get alloy wheels, electrically adjustable seats, leather upholstery, climate control, cruise control and a high-end audio system. And you get to personalise your car by ticking the long option list. Volvo assisted in the development of the Aston Martin DB9, so you can expect excellent safety standards. Dual front and side airbags, plus braking, traction and stability controls are standard, along with a multi-stage deformable front end structure.

Environment

The 389 grams/km carbon dioxide emissions level and 6.4 km/litre fuel consumption are just about the worst figures you will ever see, even by supercar standards. Meant as a grand tourer, the more practical 2011 Aston Martin DB9 will likely travel more distance (hence more pollution) compared to sportier supercars. But then again, how many polluting DB9s are there on Malaysian roads? Or in the world? Not many at all.

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2011 Aston Martin DB9 Review

2011 Aston Martin DB9 at a glance